Vacuum headrest for bathtubs



May 19, 1931. c. E. TYLER 1,806,103

vAcuuu HEADREST FOR BATHTUBS Filed Feb. 26, 1930 A *for/7 cya Patented May 19, 1931 rica CARL E. TYLER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA v VACUUM HEADREST FOR BATHTUIBS Application inea rebruaryae, 1930. serial No. 431,396.

This invention relates to vbathtubs, and more especially to a device adapted to be mounted within a bathtub, in such a manner as to offer convenience to a person during bathing.

An object of the invention is to provide a cushion device adaptedtc be so mounted in a bathtub, that a bather may rest his head thereagainst, and thus be enabled to assume 1Q a restful, reclining postion while bathing'.

A more detailed object is the provision of a cushioning device as described, which is'in the form of a vacuum cup adapted to be held in operative position against a kwall of the l5 bathtub, by the pressure of the atmosphere against the outside ofthe cup, the air having been exhausted from the interior ofthe cup.

A further object is to provide a bathtub appliance of the general characterr described, whichV is of verylsimple construction,

lowing description. ofthe inventions par# and hence which is relatively inexpensive` to manufacture, and yet which. is capable of being mounted in operative position with the greatest degree'of facility, and whichiiscapable of offering thegreatest amount of comfort' to the bather.

The invention possesses Vother objects and advantageous features, some ofwhich, with those enumerated, will be set forth' in the folticular embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a conventional bathtub partially broken away to disclose the device of the present invention in operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal, medial sectional view through the headrest device of the present invention, and a portion of the wall of the bathtub to which it is to be attached.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the device as having been securely but removablyattached to the wall of the. bathtub.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow 4 of Fig. 3.

In terms of broad inclusion, the device of the present invention is a cushion device adaptedto be rmly but removably attached in operative position, to a bathtub. It frequently occurs that beauty treatments or me# dicanients are administered to the patient by immersing him within a quantity of water or other liquid properly treated, so as'to administer` to the patient, the desired treat- Y ment. The most common method of so treating a patent, is to require him to recline within a bathtub within which the treated liquid is held, and it frequently occurs that the patient inust remain for an extended length of time. It is not at all uncommon for such treatment to oc- 5"' casion considerable discomfort to the patient, inasmuch kas Vit is inconvenient for him to assume a comfortable reclining position within the conventional bathtub.V lt is to eliminate this undesirable condition and to make "5 it possible for the patient to be more comfortable in a bathtub, that the present invention Vhas been produced. The device alsor makes it possible fora bather to read comfortably while bathing, and even to. fall asleep while lying in the bathtub covered with suitably warmed water.

Speciiically describing the invention in its preferred embodiment, I have provided a vacuum cup indicated inv its entirety vat 6,

this cup differing however, from those now` conventionallyemployed, in that it is relatively larger and particularly adapted as a result of its peculiar configuration and size,

for the uses above Outlined. Viith the me-ntioned and other objects in view, the device is constructed with relatively stiif side walls 7 preferably continuous, to :form a substantially cylindrical body. One end 8 ofthe body is closed .by a relatively ieXible end 9, whereas the other end 11 is open.

The device is made of any'suitable resilient material, rubber-being the most suitable under mest circumstances. VThe most-convenient method of makingthe end wall 9 n more iiexible than the side walls 7, is to make the side walls 7 thicker, with the result that the additional material considerably 'increases the stidness thereof. W'hereas the device maybe constructed of any suitable within the treated liquidV device of the CSI icc

size, I prefer to so proportion it that the open end 11 1s six or seven inches in diameter, and

` the entire device is two to four inches in thereof, with the result that height.

A bead 12 encirles the open end 11, thus adding still greater thickness to the material of the device at the periphery of the open end. The purpose of stiifening the open end by the bead 12, is to hold the body of the headrest to substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.

'When unattached to a supporting structure, the end 9 of the body is domed outwards as indicatedupon Fig. 2. gained through the inherent resiliency of the material of which the device is constructed, the headrest being moldedfor votherwise fashioned so as to develop a tendency for the end 9 to spring outwards in respect to the rest of the body. I-Iowever, the headrest may be securely but removably attached to any suitL ble supporting structure by placing the open end 11 against that structure and ressino' the end 9 inwards so that in effect the end 9 is collapsed into the interior of the body. This collapse of the end 9 will expel a certain amount of the air from the interior when the i herent resiliency of the material of which the headrest is constructed, forces the end 9 outwards to vinitial position, it will be necessary for air or other fluid to enter the interior of the body before the end 9 canr return.' I-Iowever, if the face sufficiently smooth and of such configuration that the end 11 can conform itself thereto, entrance of air to the interior of the body will be prevented, with the result rthat the pressure within the body is materially reduced as a result of the outward springing tendency of the end 9. Consequently, the pressure of atmospheric air against the eX- terior of the headrest, will cause it to be pressedV firmly 'against the surface to which it has been attached, thus holding it rigidly in position. Collapse of the open end'll is prevented by the stiiiening thereof, effected by the provision of the bead 12. f

Whereas the device of the present invention is capable of offering convenience under various circumstances of use, it hasbeen particularly designed so as to be attachable to the inner face of the sloping end 16 of a bathtub 17. I.When so positioned, the device is capable of permitting a bather to assume a comfortable, reclining position within the bathtub 7, with his head resting against the cellapsedend 9 of the headrest. In view of the fact that when the device is secured in operative position, the end 9 is collapsed into the interior thereof, the outer face of the end 9 is concave, presenting a recess 18 adapted to receive a portion of the head of the bather. As a result, tendency is developed to retain the bathers head securely ragainst the head- This effect is end 11 is pressed against a surrest without the necessity of exerting any muscular effort on the part of the bather. This detail makes' it possible for a bather to actually fall asleep while reclining within the bathtub, with little danger of his head being displaced from the headrest.

Thus it maybe seen that I have provided a device making it possible'for a bather to assume a comfortable, reclining position within the bathtub for an extended length of time, without becoming unduly fatigued. 'As will readily be understood, the provision of the device of the present invention will materially facilitate the administering of treatments to a person, when those treatments involve immersion ofthe patient for 'any considerable length of time.

. It should also be mentioned that another possible use for the Adevice is as a support or seat for a relatively young child while being bathed. The concavity of the end 9 facilitates holding the child erect within theV tub containing the bathing water.; and the size of the device is such that the child isy held levated from the bottom of the tub with its feet and legs disposed in a comfortable position. Y f

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subj ectl to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claim.

Iclaim'z, k f Y A vacuum cup `headrest for a bather, comprising a hollow body of impervious material vopen at one end, said open end being conformable to a portion of the interior surface v of a bathtub, to make intimate contact there-` los 

